Do you want to buy a used car? Well, buying a second hand car is a wise decision many times. First of all you should think about the reason of not buying a new car. This reason will become the major criteria of your search for a second hand car.
If you are buying a second hand car just because you cannot afford a new one then you should be sure of the amount that you would want to spend on buying a car. If you go to a used car sale then you would find many cars there and many of them will catch your attention but to stay focused on your budget you should find out the real used car values of the cars that fall within your budget.
There may be similar looking cars but their prices may vary with a large difference. Here you should find out the reason for the difference in price. One main reason for the difference in the price can be that condition of the car. A car may be running fine buy may need immediate replacement of some parts. So you must consider these factors and analyze them minutely.
The cars available through used car sales are more reliable to buy because the dealers test them mechanically and technically and assess used car values on different parameters before pricing them. If you are buying a car from a private owner then check all the documents and see the service record book to see different types of services taken for the car. This will give you better idea of the condition of the car. A recent paint job must have been done to make the car look better or even to hide the actual condition of the car. You should have the eye to judge it.
People who sell used cars are aware of the things that are noticed by a buyer and this is why they take professional help in hiding the flaws. If you can get a chance to get the evaluation of the car done by a mechanic before the purchase then you would know the actual condition of the car and its engine.
If you will use your car for travelling long distances daily then you must invest in a car that performs well rather than getting attracted to its looks. Mileage and low maintenance costs should be your parameters in this case. The used cars that will be used less can be bought on low prices as well.